Riziki News – January 2017Dear All,This is a short newsletter based on recent emails received from Julius. Diana and I will be going to Kenya soon and expect to produce a longer epistle on our return. Since our November newsletter Julius has been extremely busy with the additional work of looking after Lucy and finding suitable secondary school places for three of our boys who have just completed primary school. We are very grateful that Julius has been able to keep us informed during this time. On behalf of all involved with Riziki I would like to give sincere thanks to all our supporters, in Kenya, the U.K. and elsewhere for remembering Riziki in prayer and through donations. Without your support Riziki could not continue to give a future to the young people who are the Riziki family.

Lucy – a brief summary!As you all read in the last Newsletter, Lucy fell sick with appendicitis in October and she was admitted to hospital from October 19th to 31st. She was discharged, although not fully recovered, to enable her to sit for her KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education). She continued to go for cleaning and dressing everyday in the afternoon after sitting for the exam in the morning.Lucy sat for her last paper, biology practical, on November 28th morning, completing her secondary education. On November 29th she was readmitted to St. Mary’s hospital and was finally discharged on December 22nd. Julius has visited daily and after leaving hospital the wound continued to heal. Lucy has has a really hard time. We thank God the wound now is almost healed and she is feeling well.When the exam results were announced, Lucy was awarded a grade D which was lower than we had hoped but fully understandable under the circumstances. We are trying to get her a college where she can take a course of her choice; we pray and trust that we will be able to get one, God willing.

Other newsGrace and Dennis have both recovered from their medical problems.The children hospitals expenses from September to November 2016 are KES. 141,480/- (about £1200) but I do not know how much it will be for costs since then.The results are out for the three boys who sat for KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) early in November and they performed well so we trust that they well get good schools. Benson got 357 marks out of 500, Antony, 336 marks and Richard, 328 marks. Therefore, next year, God willing, we will have five children in secondary school, two in form 3 and three in form 1.Unfortunately, the Maasai Mara safari has been postponed to a later date due to unavoidable circumstances.The Riziki children went to their relatives on December 9th and came back on January 2nd 2017 before the schools open on January 4th.Antony, Benson and Richard started secondary school on January 11th. All three boys were originally posted, by the Ministry of Education, to secondary day schools far away from Riziki, so Julius has spent a lot of time finding a Nakuru boarding school where all three boys could be accommodated. He has been successful in finding places for them at Anestar Boys High School, Nakuru.Faith and Collins also performed well in their 3rd term 2016 exams. They went back to school on January 4th.In the gardens there were tomatoes in the greenhouse but they became infected by insects and the plants were removed. However, both cows are doing well, still giving milk, and the two young ones are growing. Unfortunately both gardeners, Daniel and Dennis left Riziki, Dennis in November and Daniel early this month.On November 19th, AIC Milimani Choir visited the Riziki children; they ate lunch together and afterwards they entertained the children with gospel music and dance. Later they cut a cake and gave the children presents, they all enjoyed the occasion very much.On December 7th, We held a thanksgiving party to thank God for enabling the three boys to pass the KCPE exam. The party also served as an early Christmas for the children before going to their relatives over the Christmas period. We did not invite many people because it was at night in the house. We only invited Rev. Jones of AIC Milimani to conduct the prayers and we also prayed for Lucy who was still in hospital. We all had a good time and thanked God for everything.The children sent greetings. Julius & Esther

Short term hopes1. We still need to renovate the two small outhouses for the older young people to sleep in.2. We need to establish a viable flock of chickens to supply eggs for Riziki and to sell.Prayer points1. Thanks for Lucy’s continued return to full health.2. For adequate rain to support the crops, not just at Riziki but throughout East Africa.3. For strength for the Riziki staff, especially Julius.4. For safety, especially on the roads as we travel in Kenya.5. That someone will feel led to join Diana and me so that there is good continuity with Riziki in preparation for the time when we are no longer able to do it.

We have not mentioned how to donate to Riziki for some time. Here are the easiest ways to do so.For donations from within UK:-The best way to make a donation to Riziki is through The Aenon Trust. This a UK charity which facilitates giving to projects including several children's homes in Kenya. Donations by UK taxpayers may be Gift Aided through The Aenon Trust. All such giftings are transferred to the projects in full by the Trust, with no deductionsCheques should be made payable to The Aenon Trust and sent to:-Mr A.E.Nicholls MBE FRGS, 137 Belvedere Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4PA , with a note saying the gift is for Riziki. Allan's email is nicholls_allan@hotmail.comDirect payments can be made to:- NATWEST BANK, Bexleyheath, Sort Code 51-70-14, for the credit of The Aenon Trust, Account No 36591483. If using this method an email should be sent to Allan to let him know the gift is for Riziki.If preferred, gifts may be sent through us at Wayfields, Briar Court, HOLMFIRTH, HD9 2JJ.Donations from elsewhere may be sent to either of the above.Regular donations can be made by Standing Orders. I can supply Gift Aid declaration forms or Standing Order forms, for regular donations, if desired.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Your interest in Riziki is much appreciated. Ian & Diana Hogley.